Kensington and Chelsea children's services rated 'outstanding' for third time
Kensington and Chelsea's children's services have been rated 'outstanding' for the third consecutive inspection, a testament to the sustained commitment of staff and the effectiveness of partnerships.
Ofsted's latest inspection, following a focused visit in July 2026, praised the council's strong foundations and sustained improvements for children in care, noting effective governance and a stable workforce.
The report identified two areas for further improvement: the quality and consistency of supervision and the Independent Reviewing Officer's oversight for older children in care. These will be key focuses for the service in the coming year, with improvement activity planned to inform this throughout 2026/27.
Ofsted noted that while arrangements for permanency planning for younger children in care are very good, the oversight for older children (aged 14 and over) needs to be clearer and more prominent. The self-assessment report acknowledges this area requires focus.
Regarding supervision, Ofsted identified a need for improvement in its quality and consistency. The self-assessment report indicates this has been an area of ongoing work, with audits showing practitioners generally experience supervision positively. However, specific reasons for the need for improvement beyond this are not detailed.
Despite the positive ratings, the report acknowledged the ongoing challenges of increasing care costs and the impact of falling child populations on school funding. The council remains committed to early intervention and prevention to reduce reliance on high-cost services.
To address rising care costs, Kensington and Chelsea council is implementing several strategies. These include investing in local, high-quality accommodation for care-experienced young people to reduce reliance on external providers, and working collaboratively with other London boroughs to share information and pool resources. A key focus remains on reducing avoidable escalations into high-cost services through early intervention and prevention.
The report also mentions that the cost of care continues to increase, reflecting both national and local pressures in the sufficiency of suitable placements. This is further illustrated in data showing care leaver outcomes, with 93.0% of care leavers aged 17-21 having suitable accommodation, compared to a national figure of 90% for 2024/25. See Public reports pack 22nd-Oct-2026 18.30 Family Services Select Committee.
The council's commitment to early intervention is also reflected in its performance in areas such as health and development reviews for young children, with 98% of new births and 93% of 6-8 week olds being on target. See Infographic displaying key performance indicators for children's services
Further details on the inspection findings and the council's response can be found in the Public reports pack for the Family Services Select Committee meeting on 22nd October 2026.
See Agenda frontsheet for the Family Services Select Committee meeting on 22nd October 2026.